Diablo

The diablo on my tensioner does not look to be designed to rotate on its axis, rather it is solidly mounted to the arm with a locking nut. The Gamma diablos look like they do rotate.

It doesn't seem to be a problem as it is very smooth and the string passes around it without a problem. Still, I would think to be pulling accurate tension, there shouldn't be any additional friction between the racquet and the tension head.

The diablo on my tensioner does not look to be designed to rotate on its axis, rather it is solidly mounted to the arm with a locking nut. The Gamma diablos look like they do rotate.

It doesn't seem to be a problem as it is very smooth and the string passes around it without a problem. Still, I would think to be pulling accurate tension, there shouldn't be any additional friction between the racquet and the tension head.

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The diablo reduces some of the forces on the tension head jaws.

On my Pro Master machine, the diablo does not spin at all, but does move with the tension plates when tension is pulled. It works great as the string enters the tension plates at same angle each time, and with nat. gut if I need to pull the same string twice, I would wind the string a second time around the diablo so the tension plates would not press on the same spot twice. A nice feature to have.

This diablo is nice and large, and is very smooth. It handles the angled pulls very nice when the brake is locked stringing O Port racquets so I never need to use boomerangs or s hooks or any other items between strings like some do as the brake along with the diablo the string will not pull on a severe angle against the linnear plates as the diablo handles the pull very nice. Its a great feature to have especially stringing delicate strings.

The diablo on my tensioner does not look to be designed to rotate on its axis, rather it is solidly mounted to the arm with a locking nut. The Gamma diablos look like they do rotate.

It doesn't seem to be a problem as it is very smooth and the string passes around it without a problem. Still, I would think to be pulling accurate tension, there shouldn't be any additional friction between the racquet and the tension head.

Click to expand...

It will depend of the tensioner as to whether e the diablo should rotate or not.

a lockout machine pivots at the tension head as it locks out, so it moves abit and the string angle changes also shortening the distance beteen it and the diablo which is fixed and does NOT pivot with the tension head.

so, it seems a rolling diablo (as on my 6004) with Lockout is warranted. Also, it maintains a constant angle, at least on the horizontal plane if you will. (well, not sure what i'm trying to say there but it takes the funk off the actual tension head and gripper.)

I'd think on a linear pull electronic it doesn't matter as much, so fixed is ok as the diablo is fix-mounted to the tensioner and they move together.

O.K. I will buy your explanation. However, my diablo does not rotate but it DOES pivot with the tension head.

You made me go downstairs and look and I see the diablo (mine doesn't spin on its axis) moves in the same plane with the tension head's string gripper. So in my case, the string angle is being kept constant.

O.K. I will buy your explanation. However, my diablo does not rotate but it DOES pivot with the tension head.

You made me go downstairs and look and I see the diablo (mine doesn't spin on its axis) moves in the same plane with the tension head's string gripper. So in my case, the string angle is being kept constant.

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which machine is it?

with mine, to be honest the movement of the pivoting head is VERY minimal but it is there.

A lockout tensioned tilts to lockout. Ans the gripper tilts up it raises over a lever held in place by a catch. When the diablo spins as it does on a Gamma lockout the same tension is on the string on both sides of the spinning diablo. If the diablo does not spin it will have lower tension on the gripper side. If you have a horizontal gripper/diablo slipping as a unit the complete unit pulls tension but on a Babolat or string like jim e's there will be less pressure on the string from the gripper because of the diablo.

Hope that makes sense to you guys if not let me know and I will try again.

Thanks Irvin for taking the time with your explanation. Seems to me your point about the tension being different on either side of the diablo is most similar to a string being pulled after wrapping around a grommet strip...the tension will be less on the string coming after the grommet strip.

I think I can take it a bit further and state that the only true tension with a diablo would be one where the diablo has zero-resistance bearings (don't exist as far as I know). I suppose ceramic bearings are the best you're going to be able to do.

That said, I don't think any of this has to do with the angle of the diablo and the string gripper. Any diablo, stationary or rotating on axis, working with the string gripper and tilting in concert will provide a better angle for directing force from the string gripper.

Maybe someday I will modify my diablo to include the best bearings and spindle that I can get, but until then, I cannot tell the difference in the finished job.

Thanks Irvin for taking the time with your explanation. Seems to me your point about the tension being different on either side of the diablo is most similar to a string being pulled after wrapping around a grommet strip...the tension will be less on the string coming after the grommet strip.

I think I can take it a bit further and state that the only true tension with a diablo would be one where the diablo has zero-resistance bearings (don't exist as far as I know). I suppose ceramic bearings are the best you're going to be able to do.

That said, I don't think any of this has to do with the angle of the diablo and the string gripper. Any diablo, stationary or rotating on axis, working with the string gripper and tilting in concert will provide a better angle for directing force from the string gripper.

Maybe someday I will modify my diablo to include the best bearings and spindle that I can get, but until then, I cannot tell the difference in the finished job.

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The string tension on the two sides of the diablo will only be different if the diablo spins.

Several years ago the Wise did not have a diablo option. When stringing with a soft string like natty gut many people would damage the string. The string would come down from the racket and go into the gripper and the gripper was pulled outward the angle of the string going into the diablo would change and mar the string. The Gamma which had a greater angle than other stringers had the biggest problem. At first Herb Wise tried to fix this with the Gamma adapter which raised the level of the stringer up 2" to the level of the stringbed. This caused the loss of 360 rotation so Herb came out with a diablo than would spin. This diablo had the problem of coming lose so he improved it with the present version that does not spin. Tis also has the added advantage of lowering tension on the string going into the gripper much like wrapping dental floss around your finger. Now the pressure on the gripper is proportional to the tension on the string so it does not crush the string.

The string tension on the two sides of the diablo will only be different if the diablo spins.

Several years ago the Wise did not have a diablo option. When stringing with a soft string like natty gut many people would damage the string. The string would come down from the racket and go into the gripper and the gripper was pulled outward the angle of the string going into the diablo would change and mar the string. The Gamma which had a greater angle than other stringers had the biggest problem. At first Herb Wise tried to fix this with the Gamma adapter which raised the level of the stringer up 2" to the level of the stringbed. This caused the loss of 360 rotation so Herb came out with a diablo than would spin. This diablo had the problem of coming lose so he improved it with the present version that does not spin. Tis also has the added advantage of lowering tension on the string going into the gripper much like wrapping dental floss around your finger. Now the pressure on the gripper is proportional to the tension on the string so it does not crush the string.

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But there is no discernible difference in the string bed between diabolos, so the point is moot? One of the purposes, by design, of the diabolo is to lessen the force exerted on the string by the gripper. If it did not do this, then it would not be effective.

But there is no discernible difference in the string bed between diabolos, so the point is moot? One of the purposes, by design, of the diabolo is to lessen the force exerted on the string by the gripper. If it did not do this, then it would not be effective.

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i believe it is also to run the string in a more direct path into the gripper?

On a NEOS it would make a huge difference as you tension would be way off. With a diablo you would change the pivot point of the gripper which changes the leverage which changes the tension.

On a Gamma lockout because the diablo spins there is no reduction in tension so the gripper closes at full reference tension.

On a Babolat (or other similar stringer) when the diablo does not spin the tension going into the gripper is reduced so there is less closing force on the string which protects the string.

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I can tell you this from my experience. I don't feel any difference in the racquet strung at 45 pounds using the diabolo versus not using it. The Wise pulls 45 pounds <period>. I do not see that translate into a difference in the stringbed.

I do see less 'evidence' on softer string of pulls where the gripper makes contact.

I can tell you this from my experience. I don't feel any difference in the racquet strung at 45 pounds using the diabolo versus not using it. The Wise pulls 45 pounds <period>. I do not see that translate into a difference in the stringbed.

I do see less 'evidence' on softer string of pulls where the gripper makes contact.

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On a Wise it would not make a difference at all but on a lockout it would. That is why I specifically said it would depend on the stringer is post #4.